FINALLY, the Florida Marlins...to be renamed the MIAMI Marlins, have themselves a BASEBALL ball park!
Quite honestly, I am shocked! I htought there was NO CHANCE this was gonna pass.....getting 9 out of 13 city commissioners to agre on ANYTHING is a rare miracle itself, much less a MAJOR city altering project like this.
PLAY BALL! Miami FINALLY gets a ball park!
After nine hours of debate, the Miami-Dade Commission agreed to pay for a share of a new baseball stadium for the team, clearing the way for construction
Baseball fans, meet the Miami Marlins.
''Ten years is a long time. Eventually it was going to come. Wow, I'm very happy, very pleased,'' said team owner Jeffrey Loria.
Standing near Loria, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz said, ``Finally. I never had any doubt it would happen.''
The commission's 9-4 vote, following more than nine hours of debate, elicited cheers and hugs, including one between Loria and team President David Samson.
Voting in favor of the stadium were Commissioners Dennis Moss, Bruno Barreiro, Audrey Edmonson, Natacha Seijas, Javier Souto, Barbara Jordan, Dorrin Rolle, Jose ''Pepe'' Diaz and Rebeca Sosa.
In the minority were Commissioners Carlos Gimenez, Sally Heyman, Katy Sorenson and Joe Martinez. Sorenson argued forcefully against spending public money for a private enterprise, saying trying to make changes to better the deal was like putting ``lipstick on a fish.''
Monday's theatrics came four days after the team won similar approval at Miami City Hall, a one-two punch of ''yes'' votes that ended the franchise's long-tortured pursuit of a new stadium.
'It is not a perfect deal. I see more positives than I see negatives in this deal. I will tell you straight out it will create jobs,' Commissioner Diaz said shortly before the vote.
A bid waiver to hire construction manager Hunt/Moss passed 10-3, with Martinez voting yes. Other measures passed, including one to bond out money to finance the deal.
The grueling day began with a brief introduction on the stadium plan by County Manager George Burgess, followed by public input.
But even that was interrupted by a brief melee outside the chamber, which resulted in police hauling away two Miami Worker's Center workers in handcuffs. And with a chamber filled with supporters and critics.
It was a fitting, dramatic end to a stadium pursuit that had long ago gone into extra innings -- 15 years, through three ownership groups.
Original team owner H. Wayne Huizenga, who launched the franchise in 1993, sold the ball club not long after its first title in 1997, in part because he failed to secure a site for a ballpark.
Then John Henry spent years trying to build one downtown on the bay -- before giving up and shelling out more than $700 million for the Boston Red Sox.
Loria said the Marlins have an untenable situation at Dolphin Stadium, with little revenue to the team from concessions or parking or suite sales.
The new ballpark will have 37,000 seats under a retractable roof, with about 60 suites and new parking facilities. The team hopes to take the field on Opening Day 2012.
Play ball: Miami-Dade OK's Florida Marlins stadium - South Florida - MiamiHerald.com